Twenty years after Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s death at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR fans will honor Earnhardt‘s life on the third lap of the race Sunday.
When cars enter the first turn of the second lap, a video tribute will play on the video boards at the Speedway. Then, fans will stand and hold up three fingers during the third lap, remembering the NASCAR legend. Earnhardt drove a No. 3 car for much of his career.
On lap 3 in today’s #DAYTONA500, join us in paying tribute to Dale Earnhardt, Sr.
— Daytona International Speedway (@DAYTONA) February 14, 2021
Fans are encouraged to stand and salute with three fingers to the sky, as we pay homage to the seven-time @NASCAR Cup Series Champion.
📰 https://t.co/5bHhGCgerz pic.twitter.com/SAo9m9ksK0
Earnhardt won the NASCAR Cup Series seven times and won 76 races overall. Earnhardt died Feb. 18, 2001, after a crash into a retaining wall on the final lap. He was 49.
He was the fourth driver to be killed by a basilar skull fracture in an eight-month span, prompting several safety improvements in the coming months and years.
The broadcast of Sunday’s iteration of the Daytona 500 will begin at 2:30 on FOX, and the green flag is expected to be dropped around 3 p.m.
• Andy Kostka can be reached at akostka@washingtontimes.com.
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